Author Profiles

Rohini Gupta

Rohini Gupta lives by the sea in downtown Mumbai, surrounded by trees, cats and dogs and crows, books, coffee shops, art galleries, poetry readings and a sprawling metropolitan city. She has been writing for a long time – fiction, nonfiction and poetry and edits online magazines. She has taught story writing among other things and about 20 of her books are available on Amazon. Her work often explores themes of nature, solitude, and inner transformation, reflecting a quiet yet powerful voice. She is deeply influenced by Indian philosophy, urban life, and the subtle interplay between the seen and the unseen in everyday moments.

Manjula Tekal

Manjula Tekal is an accomplished author and translator passionate about exploring stories across time and context. She is known for her critically acclaimed novel, Devayani, set in pre-Rigvedic times, and for translating notable Kannada and English works, including Dr Babu Krishnamurthy’s Ajeya and Adamya, Savarkar’s Moplah and Gomantak, Dr K. S. Narayanacharya’s the Last Moments of Krishnavatara, and Dr Vikram Sampath’s Savarkar. Currently, Manjula is working on several translations and a new novel. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), she has transitioned from a corporate career to writing and lives in Champaign, Illinois.

Prasad Kulkarni

Prasad Kulkarni is a Data Scientist and author passionate about blending analytical rigor with cultural storytelling. By day, he deciphers complex datasets; by night, he delves into history, geopolitics, and the Mahabharata. He contributed a reimagined narrative of Shakuntala to Aryaa – An Anthology of Vedic Women, offering fresh perspectives on timeless characters. Prasad shares his insights on data science and AI through his blog, data4v. Beyond his professional pursuits, he enjoys trekking, singing, and long walks. He actively engages with a wider audience on social media—connect with him on X (@pmka1991) and Instagram (@pmklick).

Bharathi V

Bharathi is a freelance writer, editor, blogger, and author with a deep interest in the Itihasas, especially the Mahabharata. She creates content in this niche under the appellation @MyMBJourney. Her first published story appeared in Unsung Valour, a Mahabharata anthology by Indic Academy, followed by a contribution to Aryaa – An Anthology of Vedic Women. She is also the author of When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemon Oorgai, a humorous collection of personal anecdotes. Her latest work is Thus Came Krishna (Part 1), a retelling of Krishnaavatara from Skanda 10 of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana.

Madhureima Devii Dasi

Madhureima Devii Dasi is a researcher, writer, and educator with nearly 15 years of experience in the education and social sector. She has led research and training initiatives focused on girls and underserved communities at institutions like the Administrative Staff College of India and Naandi Foundation. Currently, she serves as Senior Associate, Research and Training, at Ignis Careers. An inner worker, Jyotish enthusiast, life coach, and passionate painter, her artwork has been exhibited across cities. Her writings appear in Aryaa, Impression & Creation, and The Change & Inspire. She co-edited the book 3,999 Cups and More and contributed to another Go with Confidence. Madhureima lives in Hyderabad with her parents.

Rajani Muralidhar

Rajani grew up in the garden city of Bengaluru and trained to be a software engineer. She discovered her creative side a few years into motherhood while reading books to her own children and began writing bilingual stories for them in English and Kannada. A couple of stories have been published on Pratham books’ Storyweaver site. She particularly enjoys writing stories rife with humour. The rich narratives from the Puranas inspire her to recreate their stories for adults and children alike.

Deepak MR

Deepak M R is a professional writer and trainer with 25+ years of experience in academics, consulting, and training. An avid bibliophile, he has studied the epics. He has written the books “Abhimanyu – the warrior prince”, “Mahabharata Tales”, “Markandeya Ramayana”, “Original Vyasa Mahabharata”, “The Life and Music of Lata Mangeshkar”, “Blood & Iron”, “Fall of the Patriarch”, and “Illustrated Book of Mythology – Curses and Boons”, and contributing author to anthologies “Unsung Valour”. He is currently working on a book about lessons from the Mahabharata for the modern world. He lives in Bangalore with his wife, daughter, and parents.

Celia Pillai

Celia Pillai has worn many hats—architect, business strategist, entrepreneur, yoga trainer, creativity & innovation specialist, and corporate professional. But mostly, she’s just really curious about everything and enjoys digging deep – especially on what it means to be human. Drawn to the timeless wisdom of our ancient texts, Celia finds in them a profound understanding of the human experience—guidance for the outer and inner worlds. She paints, writes, reads, designs, dreams vividly, and obsesses over living life aligned to nature. Celia lives in Chennai with her husband, son, and a naughty shih tzu with a talent for stealing hearts.

Kavita Krishna Meegama

Kavita Krishna Meegama is a student of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati ji, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, and has continued her Vedānta studies from the same paramparā. She enjoys writing and teaching Indic languages, culture, and thought. Her stories have been published in INDICA anthologies such as Gods in Exile and Shared Roots, and Dhīti – the Bṛhat blog. Currently she is the Director University Relations (IKS), at Bṛhat Education Trust. She has previously worked as a Language and Culture Instructor at the State Department in the U.S. and also in the Education Wing at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C.

Ranjith Radhakrishnan

Ranjith Radhakrishnan is a Bengaluru-based entrepreneur turned novelist. His debut novel, Rama of the Axe: The Epic Saga of Parashurama (Westland Books) was published in 2023. His short story “Shakuni: The Dice of Death” featured in the INDICA Anthology Unsung Valour (Bloomsbury).

Shivakumar GV

Shivakumar GV is Director – IKS Changemakers at INDICA, leading programs that nurture IKS Changemakers through INDICA’s 6C Framework. He curates the INDICA IKS MetaRetreats and hosts the IKS Changemakers Podcast. An IKS Research Scholar focused on Mahabharata and Purushartha, he develops frameworks for leadership, public policy, and institutional culture rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems. A prolific writer, he has written over 100 articles on INDICA Today. He stories have been published in the INDICA Anthologies Unsung Valour and Adrsya. With an MTech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and twenty-five years in the IT industry, Shivakumar blends scholarly depth with design and delivery of transformative learning. He resides in Bengaluru with his family.